Investigators:
Thomas Reinke, M.S. Student, Stephen F. Austin State University

Project Supervisors:
Dr. Warren Conway
Dr. David Haukos

Funding:
Migratory Bird Office, Region 2, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuges, Region 2, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Stephen F. Austin State University

Cooperators:
Texas Chenier Plain NWR Complex
Dr. Dan Collins
Patrick Walther

Location: Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge

Completion: May 2013

Status: Summer 2012 was the first year of sampling waterbirds on the Texas Chenier Plain National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Objectives:
(1) Measure lead exposure on black-necked stilts.
(2) Model the population effect of lead exposure on black-necked stilts.
(3) Determine effect of coastal marsh management practices on population demography of black-necked stilts.

Progress and Results:

The black-necked stilt has been studied extensively in the western United States, but its habitat requirements and breeding ecology are poorly delineated elsewhere. In western North America, black-necked stilts exist in dense populations, often clustered around salt evaporation ponds and managed wetlands, while black-necked stilts in the Southeast are putatively more broadly distributed in coastal marsh habitats. These regional habitat differences may promote variation in metapopulation structure, nest-site selection, reproductive success, and habitat and space use, none of which are well described in coastal Texas. Moreover, historic waterfowl harvest sites along the Texas coast have extensive lead deposition from spent shot. Although lead shot ingestion has been documented in black-necked stilts no data exist on blood lead concentrations or potential effects on survival, nest success, and other vital. This research has been designed to quantify black-necked stilt blood lead levels, habitat use, nest-site selection, and nest success on the upper Texas coast.

Products:
Riecke, T.V., W. Conway, and D.A. Haukos. 2012. Nest success and nest site selection of black-necked stilts on the Texas Chenier Plain National Wildlife Refuge Complex. 48^th Annual Meeting, Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Fort Worth, Texas.